Compare towns
Dover vs Marlboro vs Stratton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Stratton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,362 |
532Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below 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% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Marlboro 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 |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Marlboro and Stratton 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 |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Marlboro 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro 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 | Marlboro School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.