Compare towns
Dover vs Putney vs Ira
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 most people working from home (23.2%).
Putney has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Putney | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,622Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Ira 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Ira 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Ira 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.


