What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).

Wells River has the most kids (17.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Wells River
People
Population	1,466Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+60% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Dover and Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wells River and Dover 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Dover and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,313±$7kHighest 36% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT	$900±$336Highest 27% below VT
	Wells River and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,510Highest 10% below VT	$4,154Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Dover 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%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Dover and Wells River 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.