Compare towns

Dover vs Hampton vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).

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.

MeasureDoverHamptonNorthfield
People
Population
1,466
1,145Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Hampton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$73,796±$8kHighest
9% below U.S.
$71,768±$13k
11% below U.S.
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55kHighest
about the U.S. average
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Dover and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510
45% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Northfield 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 — — #42 of 70 in VT
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.