Compare towns
Dover vs Johnson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Wardsboro has the highest household income ($62k).
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 | Johnson | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,450Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
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% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Wardsboro 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$55,346±$14k 32% below VT |
$62,000±$6kHighest 24% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Johnson 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 |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% 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 |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
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.