Compare towns
Dover vs Highgate vs Fairfield vs Townshend
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%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Highgate | Fairfield | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Fairfield 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Fairfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Dover 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.