Compare towns
Dover vs Williston 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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Williston | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Dover 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$287,700±$16kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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.