Compare towns

Dover vs Sheldon vs Dummerston

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%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

MeasureDoverSheldonDummerston
People
Population
1,466Lowest
2,267Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Dover and Dummerston 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Dummerston 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Dummerston 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%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Dover and Sheldon 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
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Sheldon 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
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston 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
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Sheldon 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
6% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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

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.