Compare towns
Montgomery vs Sheffield vs Wheelock vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Sheffield | Wheelock | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
573Lowest |
717 |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26k 28% below VT |
$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Wheelock and Sheffield 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above 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 |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Sheffield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.