Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Putney vs Randolph
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 homeowners (97%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% 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 | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
471Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Randolph 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.