Compare towns
Dover vs Chester vs Newfane
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%).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Chester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,992Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Newfane 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dover 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$66,719±$21kHighest 18% below VT |
| Newfane and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.