Compare towns
Dover vs Ripton vs Stowe vs Wilmington
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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Stowe has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Ripton | Stowe | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
508Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Ripton 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Stowe 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$287,700±$16kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Wilmington 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.