Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Lee
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%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Fairlee | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Lee 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% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Lee 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. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$55k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dover 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. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Lee 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Lee 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.