Compare towns
Sutton vs Middlesex vs Dover vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Sutton | Middlesex | Dover | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,943Highest |
1,466 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Dover and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.