Compare towns
Dover vs Westminster vs Marlboro vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Westminster | Marlboro | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,999Highest |
1,362 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Westminster 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Marlboro 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Marlboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Marlboro 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Marlboro School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.