Compare towns
Dover vs Sandgate vs Castleton vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Sandgate and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Sandgate 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT |
| Marlboro and Castleton 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Castleton 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Marlboro 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Marlboro School District |
| 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.