Compare towns

Newfane vs Dover vs Fairlee vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureNewfaneDoverFairleeDummerston
People
Population
1,456
1,466
1,066Lowest
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% 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
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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
$66,719±$21k
18% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$274,200±$39kLowest
13% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,174
about the VT average
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
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
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
13% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
24 min
3% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A River Valleys Unified School District #73 Rivendell Interstate School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None 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.