Compare towns

Worcester vs Dover vs Groton vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterDoverGrotonWindham
People
Population
831
1,466Highest
967
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
$670±$49
46% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
6.8%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
30 minHighest
29% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 River Valleys Unified School District #73 — —
High school 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.