Compare towns
Dover vs Springfield vs Rochester 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%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Springfield | Rochester | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,122 |
1,389 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 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.