Compare towns
Jay vs Peru 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 the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dorset 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 | Peru | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
434Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Jay and Dorset 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Peru 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% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Jay 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%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 |
28 min 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 |
| 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.