Compare towns
Dover vs Hardwick vs Wardsboro 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Hardwick | Wardsboro | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,965Highest |
820Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 5% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Fairlee 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.