Compare towns
Dover vs Ripton vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Wheelock | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
508Lowest |
717 |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51±5.6 18% 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | — | $1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wheelock 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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.