Compare towns
Dover vs Brookline 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%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Brookline | Fairlee | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
531Lowest |
1,066 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
41.1%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% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Brookline 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 5% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Brookline 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.