Compare towns
Fairlee vs Sutton vs Dover vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bradford has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Sutton | Dover | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
2,239 |
1,466 |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
42.7±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Sutton 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 7% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$108,162±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$258,600±$30kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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 23% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,221±$808 14% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,472Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.9%±23.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.