Compare towns
Dummerston vs Fair Haven vs Jay vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Dummerston | Fair Haven | Jay | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,724Highest |
471Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dummerston 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.