Compare towns
Chester vs Dummerston vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Chester | Dummerston | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,090 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dummerston 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.