Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon vs Cornish vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Mendon | Cornish | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,113 |
1,816Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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 35% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| 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 53% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | — | Cornish School District | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.