Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dover vs Fairlee vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Dover | Fairlee | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
1,466 |
1,066 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.