Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Brookline 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 the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Middlesex | Brookline | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,943Highest |
531Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Dover and Brookline 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
| Middlesex and Marlboro 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,600±$824 30% above VT |
| Brookline and Marlboro 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,640 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Marlboro 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marlboro 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.