Compare towns
Dover vs Addison vs Worcester vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Dover | Addison | Worcester | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,175 |
831Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% 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 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Addison and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.