Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford vs Worcester
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 most kids (23% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,372 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% 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 |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Dover and Strafford 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Strafford 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.