Compare towns
Dover vs Sheldon vs Northfield
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Sheldon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
2,267 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Northfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Northfield 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Dover and Northfield 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±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.