Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford vs Sheldon 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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Strafford | Sheldon | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,372 |
2,267Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.