Compare towns
Jay vs Dover vs Hancock vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Dover | Hancock | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,466Highest |
435Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Dover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Jay 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and West Fairlee 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Hancock 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rivendell Interstate 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 | 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.