Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Richford has the most renters (29.6% rent).
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 | Lowell | Dover | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,466 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kHighest 29% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$56,853±$13k 30% below VT |
| Lowell and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33k 42% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,300 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.