Compare towns
Worcester vs Guilford vs Dover
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Worcester | Guilford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,461Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
46.7±5.2Lowest 8% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| 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% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford and Worcester 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% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Guilford 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% |
44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Guilford 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 |
$75,243±$6kHighest 7% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Guilford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Guilford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford 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% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.