Compare towns
Dover vs Dummerston vs Arlington vs Montgomery
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%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Arlington | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,090 |
2,598Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Arlington 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Montgomery 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Montgomery 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Arlington School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.