Compare towns
Dover vs Bristol vs Fairlee vs Newfane
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%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Bristol | Fairlee | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,778Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
12.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bristol and Fairlee 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% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Bristol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.