Compare towns
Dover vs Dummerston vs Fairlee vs Middlesex
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%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Dummerston | Fairlee | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,090Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Dummerston 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.