Compare towns
Dover vs Barton vs Fairlee vs Wilmington
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%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Barton | Fairlee | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
730Lowest |
1,066 |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7k 36% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 |
$761±$150 38% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
74% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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.