Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Vernon
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%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,466 |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Dover and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Vernon 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 |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Lowell 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 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 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lowell School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.