Compare towns
Dover vs Putney vs Windham vs Worcester
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,622Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover and Worcester 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Putney 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Windham 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Windham and Dover 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 |
— | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Windham 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.