Compare towns
Dover vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Hancock | Jay | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
435Lowest |
471 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% 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% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Hancock 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% |
34.3% 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% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 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 |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Dover 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% 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 |
28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.