Compare towns
Dover vs Brookline vs Middlesex
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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Dover and Brookline 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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.