Compare towns
Danby vs Fairlee vs Dummerston vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Danby | Fairlee | Dummerston | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,066 |
2,090Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Fairlee and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Dummerston and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 | 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.