Compare towns
Jay vs Windham vs Dover
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 highest household income ($95k).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
594 |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Windham 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Dover 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±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $670±$49 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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.