Compare towns
Dover vs Wardsboro vs Worcester
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%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Worcester has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Wardsboro | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
820Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Worcester 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% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
| Worcester and Wardsboro 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.