Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex vs Dover vs Fairlee
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%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Newfane | Middlesex | Dover | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,943Highest |
1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.