Compare towns
Jericho vs Jay vs Westminster vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the most renters (11.8% rent).
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 | Jericho | Jay | Westminster | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,114Highest |
471Lowest |
2,999 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Westminster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,318 45% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.