Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Dummerston vs Stratton 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 affordable homes ($299k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Dummerston | Stratton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
2,090Highest |
532Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% 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%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Dummerston 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.