Compare towns
Dover vs Worcester vs Brookline vs Wardsboro
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($81k).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Worcester | Brookline | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Wardsboro 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,479±$224 20% above VT |
| Brookline and Wardsboro 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Brookline 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 | 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.