Compare towns
Westfield vs Dover vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the highest household income ($73k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Westfield | Dover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 536Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Dover and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30kHighest 11% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Dover and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187 30% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388 13% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Westfield 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 | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.