Compare towns
Jay vs Dover vs Winhall
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Dover | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,466Highest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% 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%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall 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%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Winhall and Dover 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 |
$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT |
| Winhall 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,094±$732Highest 11% below VT |
| Winhall and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Dover 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.