Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Dover vs Middlesex vs Leicester
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 affordable homes ($299k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820Lowest |
1,466 |
1,943Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest 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 |
48.8±3.8 13% 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%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 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% |
24.5%±6.7 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% |
35.9%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% |
1.3%±1.6 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 |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,098±$300 11% 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 | $4,345 14% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% 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% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Dover 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% |
11.8%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% |
85.5% 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 |
28 minHighest 20% 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% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest 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 | — |
| 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.