Compare towns
Dover vs Groton vs Windham vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Windham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
967 |
594Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Windham and Groton 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 |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Windham 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.