Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Dover vs Middlesex vs Danby
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wardsboro | Dover | Middlesex | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820Lowest |
1,466 |
1,943Highest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Dover and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% 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 | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$794±$166 36% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Danby 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None 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.