Compare towns
Dover vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Whitingham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,368 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Fairlee 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% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Whitingham 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
| Fairlee and Whitingham 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 |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% 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 |
$673±$150 45% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.