Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fair Haven has the highest household income ($62k).
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 | Lowell | Dover | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,466 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Dover and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,404±$16kHighest 23% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33k 42% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Lowell and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lowell School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.