Compare towns
Marlboro vs Sheldon vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Sheldon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Marlboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlboro School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.