Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Dover vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Orange has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Lunenburg | Dover | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
1,466Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Dover and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Lunenburg and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9k 35% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Orange and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lunenburg and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.