Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Mendon vs Ripton
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%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Mendon | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
1,113 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Mendon and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Mendon 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 | 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.