Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Worcester vs Troy
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Worcester | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,466 |
831Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Troy 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dover and Sheldon 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±$49 46% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Troy 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None 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.