Compare towns
Williston vs Dover vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Williston | Dover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
33,364Highest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dover School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.