Compare towns
Dover vs Salisbury vs Worcester vs Wardsboro
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%).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Worcester | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,200 |
831 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Salisbury 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 |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.