Compare towns
Dover vs Bennington vs Putney vs Wilmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Bennington | Putney | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,622 |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Bennington and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
74% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.