Compare towns
Wilmington vs Calais vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Wilmington | Calais | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,747Highest |
1,713 |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Calais and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$16kLowest 9% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$95 10% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Calais and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 5% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 |
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.