Compare towns
Fairlee vs Dover vs Westminster
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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,466Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school 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.