Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Putnam
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%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% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Fairlee 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±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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 |
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.