Compare towns

Dover vs Elmore vs Worcester

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%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureDoverElmoreWorcester
People
Population
1,466Highest
964
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
45±3.5Lowest
4% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Dover and Worcester 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%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Elmore and Worcester 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%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
47.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester 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
$98,750±$24kHighest
22% above VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
Elmore and Worcester 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
$315,800±$47k
about the VT average
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Dover and Elmore 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
$1,225±$263Highest
about the VT average
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
Elmore and Worcester 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
$5,066Highest
about the VT average
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dover and Elmore 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%
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
29 minHighest
25% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester 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 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 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.