Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Sharon 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%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Montgomery | Sharon | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,047Lowest |
1,577Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Sharon and Dover 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 |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Sharon and Fairlee 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sharon School District | 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.