Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Ludlow
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 highest household income ($75k).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
471Lowest |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Dover and Ludlow 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% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
| Jay and Ludlow 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 |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow 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 |
— | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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 |
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.