Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs White River Junction
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%).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
White River Junction has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Ludlow | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,990 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Dover and Ludlow 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% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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 |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ludlow and Dover 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 |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and White River Junction 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.