Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Calais vs Wilmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Jay | Calais | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
471Lowest |
1,713 |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,106±$95 10% below VT |
| Calais and Wilmington 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,299 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Wilmington 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None 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.