Compare towns
Dover vs Ira vs Benson 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 most people working from home (23.2%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Ira | Benson | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Ira and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Benson 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Benson 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 | 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.