Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Sutton
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Sheldon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066 |
2,267Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sutton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| 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 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Fairlee 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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 |
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.