Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon vs Braintree vs Marlboro
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%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mendon | Braintree | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,113 |
1,026Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Braintree 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% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Braintree 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Mendon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Braintree 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
17 min 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro and Dover 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Marlboro School District |
| 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.