Compare towns
Dover vs Waltham 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Waltham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
452Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Waltham 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Dover and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Waltham 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.