Compare towns

Dover vs Ferrisburgh vs Fairlee

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%).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureDoverFerrisburghFairlee
People
Population
1,466
2,661Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
45.5±4.9Lowest
6% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% 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%
17.2%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Ferrisburgh and Fairlee 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%
23.3%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
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%
VT: 43.8%
51.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.8
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Ferrisburgh 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
$106,989±$22kHighest
32% above VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$422,700±$35kHighest
34% above VT
$274,200±$39kLowest
13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
Ferrisburgh and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$6,120Highest
21% above VT
$5,617
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Ferrisburgh 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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
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 — #7 of 70 in VT —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 Rivendell Interstate School District
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

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.