Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Sandgate vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Montgomery has the most kids (15.5% 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 | Sandgate | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
435Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
51.5±11.3Lowest 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Sandgate 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
| Fairlee and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Dover and Montgomery 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±$209 30% below VT |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dover 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.