Compare towns
Dover vs Highgate vs Sutton vs Wilmington
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%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Highgate | Sutton | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,528Highest |
790Lowest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Sutton 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Wilmington and Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.