Compare towns
Dover vs Castleton vs Calais
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Castleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Dover and Calais 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Calais 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.