Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon vs Randolph vs Wilmington
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).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Randolph | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,113Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Mendon 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Mendon and Randolph 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±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% 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±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Randolph 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Randolph 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.