Compare towns
Jay vs Dummerston vs Dover vs Middletown Springs
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).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dummerston | Dover | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,466 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middletown Springs 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middletown Springs 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middletown Springs 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,595Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.