Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Northfield vs Wardsboro
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 people working from home (27.3%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Jay | Northfield | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
471Lowest |
5,920Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Northfield 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Jay and Northfield 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 |
— | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Wardsboro 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.