Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Townsend
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.