Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Webster | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,066 |
2,227Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Webster 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Dover 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% 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% |
96%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. |
1979 1 yr older 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. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.