Compare towns
Dover vs Worcester vs Highgate
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 homeowners (85.9%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
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 | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
831Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Worcester 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Dover and Highgate 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Worcester and Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Highgate 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.