Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Oakham vs Montgomery
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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Oakham | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066 |
1,639Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.