Compare towns
Orwell vs Dover vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Orwell | Dover | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,466Highest |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Dover and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$316,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.