Compare towns
Dover vs Proctor vs Jay vs Wilmington
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%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Proctor | Jay | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,794Highest |
471Lowest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Wilmington 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
| Wilmington and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilmington 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.