Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Sheldon vs Berkshire
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 affordable homes ($183k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Berkshire has the most renters (22.7% 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 | Sheldon | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,466 |
2,267Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Berkshire 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±$15k 29% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Dover and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.