Compare towns

Dover vs Fair Haven vs Putney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureDoverFair HavenPutney
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,724
2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.2±7.6Highest
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2
4% below U.S.
Fair Haven and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Fair Haven and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Fair Haven and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$830±$116
41% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,865Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 120 in NH #66 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Dover Senior High School Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Lowest
12.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.