Compare towns
Dover vs Fair Haven vs Jay vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Fair Haven | Jay | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,724Highest |
471Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Dover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT |
| Marlboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
— | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marlboro 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.