Compare towns
Dover vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Marlboro
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 most renters (18.9% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sheldon | Jay | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Marlboro 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
— | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Marlboro 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marlboro 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None 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.