Compare towns
Dover vs Putney vs Rockingham 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%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Rockingham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Putney | Rockingham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,622 |
4,807Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rockingham 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Rockingham 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rockingham School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.