Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Windham 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%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,047Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Windham and Dover 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. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Fairlee 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. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | RSU 14 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.