Compare towns

Fairlee vs Dover vs Dummerston

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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% 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.

MeasureFairleeDoverDummerston
People
Population
1,066Lowest
1,466
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% 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
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston 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
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Dummerston 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%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
3% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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.