Compare towns

Dover vs Sutton vs Benson

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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).

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.

MeasureDoverSuttonBenson
People
Population
1,466Highest
790
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
51.9±9.4
20% above VT
Dover and Benson 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%
17.3%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Sutton and Benson 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%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Benson 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%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
32.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
Benson 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
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
$78,625±$8kHighest
3% below VT
Benson and Sutton 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
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$242,000±$26k
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
—
$1,113±$170Highest
10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Highest
10% below VT
$3,975Lowest
21% below VT
$4,125
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Benson 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%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
85%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
30 min
26% above VT
32 minHighest
35% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Benson 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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.