Compare towns
Montgomery vs Bennington vs Dover vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Montgomery | Bennington | Dover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,466 |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$59,446±$7kHighest 27% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
| Bennington and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 58% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.