Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Bridgewater vs Dover
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Middlesex | Bridgewater | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,943Highest |
980Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bridgewater 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.