Compare towns
Dover vs Reading vs Salisbury
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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Reading | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
699Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5Lowest 17% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Dover 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.