Compare towns
Dover vs Ira vs Jay
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 most expensive homes ($333k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Jay has the most kids (14.2% 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 | Ira | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
381Lowest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ira 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Ira 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dover and Ira 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 |
$942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| 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 |
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.