Compare towns
Dover vs Bennington vs Fairlee
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 (+60%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Bennington | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,588Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Bennington 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 35% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.