Compare towns
Dover vs Townshend vs Ripton vs Wilmington
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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Wilmington has the most renters (26% rent).
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 | Townshend | Ripton | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,538 |
508Lowest |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Ripton 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Wilmington and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.