Compare towns
Jay vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% 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 | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
594 |
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 |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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.