Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Westminster vs 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Westminster | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
471Lowest |
497 |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Dover and Westminster 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 |
— | $749±$315 39% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | 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.