Compare towns
Dover vs Fairlee vs Jay vs Stratton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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.
| Measure | Dover | Fairlee | Jay | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,066 |
471Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 | 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.