Compare towns
Dover vs Ferrisburgh vs Fairlee vs Wardsboro
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).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Ferrisburgh | Fairlee | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,661Highest |
1,066 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% 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 |
51.6±7.3 20% 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%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Ferrisburgh 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% |
27.4%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below 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% |
54.5%±58 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest 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 |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.