Compare towns
Dover vs West Fairlee vs Wilmington
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%).
West Fairlee has the most kids (13.5% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | West Fairlee | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
711Lowest |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and West Fairlee 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% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| West 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 36% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Wilmington 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| 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 |
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.