Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jay vs Strafford
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 youngest population (median age 45.6).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Jay | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
471Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Strafford 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Strafford 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Strafford 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 |
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.