Compare towns

Dover vs Chittenden 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%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

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.

MeasureDoverChittendenWilmington
People
Population
1,466
1,318Lowest
1,747Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+20.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
50.8±6.3Lowest
18% 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%
13.8%±2.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
9.6%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Chittenden and Dover 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%
21.8%±4Lowest
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%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Chittenden 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
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$70,000±$23k
14% below VT
Chittenden and Wilmington 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
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$287,700±$16kLowest
9% below VT
Chittenden 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
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
$1,106±$95
10% below VT
Chittenden and Wilmington 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
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$5,299
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
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%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
74%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs 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
21 minLowest
9% below VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6
VT: 16.9%
10.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Chittenden 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 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.