Compare towns

Dover vs Newark vs Reading

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%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Reading has the highest household income ($85k).

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.

MeasureDoverNewarkReading
People
Population
1,466Highest
727
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
Dover and Reading 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%
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Newark and Reading 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%
19.9%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
Reading 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
36% below VT
$72,929±$7k
10% below VT
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
Reading and Newark 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
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Reading 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
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510
10% below VT
$3,771Lowest
25% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
34 minHighest
44% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Reading 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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

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.