Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Unity vs Montgomery
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).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Unity | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
1,375 |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
| Unity 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±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. 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 53% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above 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% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 | Unity School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.