Compare towns
Dover vs Orange vs Townshend 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%).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Orange | Townshend | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
957Lowest |
1,538Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Townshend 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±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Dover and Townshend 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 |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Orange 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.