Compare towns
Dover vs Jay vs Westminster vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
471Lowest |
497 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Westminster 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±$22k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
— | $749±$315Highest 39% below VT |
— |
| Westminster and Dover 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% 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% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% 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 |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 14% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.