Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon vs Bridgewater vs Newfane
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).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,113 |
980Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater 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%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.