Compare towns
Dover vs Sutton vs Putney 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Sutton | Putney | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,239 |
2,622Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Putney 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 53% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Fairlee 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.