Compare towns
Dover vs Rochester vs Fairlee vs Plainfield
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Fairlee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,389 |
1,066Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% 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% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.