Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Castleton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Wardsboro | Castleton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below 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 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Castleton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.