Compare towns

Dover vs Windham vs Putney vs Marlboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
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.

MeasureDoverWindhamPutneyMarlboro
People
Population
1,466
594Lowest
2,622Highest
1,362
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+59.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
37.2±5.2
14% below VT
22.7±2.1Lowest
47% below VT
Dover and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
12%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Putney 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.8%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Windham 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%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
53.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
42.7%±4.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$77,135±$10k
5% below VT
Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$357,300±$55kHighest
13% above VT
Marlboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49
46% below VT
—
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,600±$824Highest
30% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,313
5% above VT
$5,640
12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.1%±43.6
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Windham 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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
6% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
18 min
24% below VT
17 minLowest
26% below VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
26%±11.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Marlboro and Dover 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 — — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Marlboro School District
High school in town None in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 photos → 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.