Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs Peru 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 the most people working from home (23.2%).
Ludlow has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Ludlow | Peru | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,990Highest |
434Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% 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%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Fairlee 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% |
31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ludlow 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Fairlee 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 |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Peru 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±$55k 5% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Peru and Ludlow 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 |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Peru and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ludlow 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
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.