Compare towns
Dover vs Stratton vs Waterville vs Newfane
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Stratton | Waterville | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
532Lowest |
680 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waterville 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Stratton and Waterville 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Waterville 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.