Compare towns
Dover vs Brookline vs Mendon 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%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Brookline | Mendon | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
531Lowest |
1,113 |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% 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% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Mendon 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Mendon 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$55k 5% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$287,700±$16kLowest 9% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Brookline and Mendon 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | — | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.