Compare towns
Fairlee vs Dover vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Dover | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,466 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.