Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Berlin | Dover | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,466 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Lowest 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Dover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.