Compare towns

Waltham vs Dover vs Panton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureWalthamDoverPanton
People
Population
452Lowest
1,466Highest
690
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Waltham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±7.4
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
45.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Waltham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,500±$14kHighest
20% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
Waltham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,700±$51kLowest
4% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$113
11% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714
13% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
18% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
26 min
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
High school 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.