Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Rupert
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).
Rupert has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee 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% |
13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rupert 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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 VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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 |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert 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 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Rupert 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.