Compare towns
Dover vs Berlin vs Brookline vs Townshend
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%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Berlin | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,880Highest |
531Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Berlin and Brookline 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 |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.