Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Cornwall 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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 | Middlesex | Cornwall | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,943Highest |
1,208 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Cornwall 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.