Compare towns
Jay vs Bennington vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k 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 | Jay | Bennington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.