Compare towns
Dover vs Jefferson vs Fairlee
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%).
Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Jefferson | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Fairlee 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% |
12.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Jefferson and Fairlee 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Jefferson 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 |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Jefferson 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. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Jefferson 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Jefferson 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.