Compare towns
Dover vs Olean vs Montgomery 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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Montgomery has the youngest population (median age 51.5).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Olean | Montgomery | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,664Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Lowest 32% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Olean 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% |
15.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean 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% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 53% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Montgomery 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. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 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.