Compare towns
Stratton vs Starksboro vs Wardsboro vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Wardsboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Stratton | Starksboro | Wardsboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,939Highest |
820 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Starksboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Stratton and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.