Compare towns
Dover vs Heath vs Fairlee 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%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Heath | Fairlee | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
765Lowest |
1,066 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery and Heath 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% |
33.6%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Heath 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% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%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% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Heath 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. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
| Heath 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 |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% 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±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Dover 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 | 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.