Compare towns
Dover vs Westminster vs Middlesex 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%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Middlesex | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,943 |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wilmington 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Wilmington 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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.