Compare towns
Dover vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Oakham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,639Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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 about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 | Quabbin | 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 |
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.