Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Newfane vs Wardsboro
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Newfane | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,314 |
1,456 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Newfane 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Wardsboro 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.