Compare towns
Fairlee vs Dover vs Windham vs Rochester
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Windham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,466Highest |
594Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Windham 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±$39k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Windham and Dover 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 |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 | 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.