Compare towns

Dover vs Pittsford 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%).
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).

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.

MeasureDoverPittsfordFairlee
People
Population
1,466
2,892Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
47.7±6.3Lowest
11% 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%
15.1%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Pittsford 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%
25.4%±6.1Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Pittsford 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
$69,705±$7k
14% below VT
$74,760±$10kHighest
8% below VT
Fairlee and Pittsford 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
$197,000±$33kLowest
38% below VT
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
Dover and Fairlee 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
$781±$167
37% below VT
$1,083±$242Highest
12% below VT
Fairlee and Pittsford 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
$3,378Lowest
33% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
18.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.3%
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±6.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Fairlee 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 — #54 of 70 in VT —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 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

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.