Compare towns
Fairlee vs Newfane vs Orange 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 highest household income ($75k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
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 | Newfane | Orange | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,456 |
957Lowest |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Fairlee and Orange 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Orange and Newfane 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.