Compare towns
Dover vs Ira vs Sheldon
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 most homeowners (90.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
381Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover and Ira 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Ira 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Ira 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.