Compare towns
Dover vs Sutton vs Chester 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).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Sutton | Chester | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
790Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Dover and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT |
| Marlboro 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±$55k 5% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
— | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Chester 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.