Compare towns
Stratton vs Waterville vs Dover vs Wardsboro
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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Waterville | Dover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
680 |
1,466Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Waterville 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 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.