Compare towns
Dover vs Montpelier 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).
Montpelier has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
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 | Montpelier | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
8,014Highest |
1,362Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Montpelier and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,640 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Marlboro 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.