Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs West Fairlee
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%).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
471Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% 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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee 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% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Jay 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.