Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Sheldon | Dover | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,466 |
1,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Dover and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Burke and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Burke and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
| Sheldon and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.