Compare towns
Dover vs Groton vs Middlesex
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%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Groton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
967Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Dover and Groton 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% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Middlesex 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Groton 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% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.