Compare towns
Dover vs Brattleboro 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%).
Brattleboro has the most kids (20% under 18).
Wilmington has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Brattleboro | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
7,657Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
20%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2Lowest 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% |
47.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Dover 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 |
$52,734±$12k 35% below VT |
$70,000±$23kHighest 14% below VT |
| Wilmington and Brattleboro 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 |
$234,600±$20kLowest 26% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 |
$1,113±$67Highest 10% below VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Brattleboro 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 |
$5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Wilmington 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% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.