Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Poultney 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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Poultney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
1,033 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2 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% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dover 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±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ripton 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.