Compare towns
Dover vs Highgate vs Montgomery 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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Highgate | Montgomery | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,528Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±11.3 19% 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%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Montgomery 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Fairlee 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| 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 46% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Highgate 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 |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.