Compare towns

Williston vs Eliot vs Dover

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%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).

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.

MeasureWillistonEliotDover
People
Population
10,144
7,146Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
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±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
Williston and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Dover 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 #19 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District
High school in town None in town None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.7
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.