Compare towns

Strafford vs Dover vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureStraffordDoverSalisbury
People
Population
1,372
1,466Highest
1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
50.6±6.5Lowest
17% above VT
Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Salisbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$306,900±$51kLowest
3% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$4,842
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
about the VT average
22 min
6% below VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Strafford School District 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.