Compare towns
Dover vs Brookfield vs Worcester 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%).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Brookfield | Worcester | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,486 |
831Lowest |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Dover 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 |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Wilmington and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.