Compare towns
Dover vs Strafford vs Worcester 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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Strafford | Worcester | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,372 |
831Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.