Compare towns
Dover vs Richmond vs Wilder
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).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Richmond | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
4,159Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Dover and Wilder 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Dover 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.