Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Brookline vs Montgomery
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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,943Highest |
531Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 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%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$53,289±$24k 34% 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Brookline 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.