Compare towns
Dover vs Sheldon vs Proctor 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Proctor | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,267Highest |
1,794 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Proctor 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| 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.