Compare towns
Dover vs Worcester vs Chester
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 highest household income ($74k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
831Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Dover and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester 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±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dover and Worcester 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±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.