Compare towns
Jay vs Danby vs Dorset
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%).
Danby has the most renters (10.7% rent).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Danby | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,133 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Danby and Jay 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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Dorset 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% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.