Compare towns
Dover vs Saco vs Newfane vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Saco has the most kids (16.7% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Saco | Newfane | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
20,819Highest |
1,456 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Saco 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 35% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Saco 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±$55k about the U.S. average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Saco Public Schools | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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 | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.