Compare towns
Dover vs Bristol vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bristol | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,778Highest |
1,362Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Dover and Bristol 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% |
12.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Bristol and Marlboro 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% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Bristol 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% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT |
| Marlboro and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro and Bristol 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 |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Bristol 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,640 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.