Compare towns
Dover vs Sutton vs Walden 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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Walden | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
790Lowest |
1,037 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Sutton 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%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 |
— | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.