Compare towns
Dover vs Sheldon vs Stratton vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Sheldon | Stratton | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
| Stratton and Marlboro 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marlboro 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro 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 | — | 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.