Compare towns
Dover vs Rupert vs Whiting 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 the most people working from home (23.2%).
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Rupert | Whiting | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
676 |
532Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Rupert 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Fairlee 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Whiting and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rupert and Dover 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 |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Rupert 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 | — | 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 | 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.