Compare towns

Ludlow vs Jay vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureLudlowJayDover
People
Population
1,990Highest
471Lowest
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±6.2
21% above VT
52.1±10.5Lowest
21% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±6
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Jay and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow and Dover 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%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,885±$14k
32% below VT
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
Jay and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$370,200±$46kHighest
17% above VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,112±$151Highest
10% below VT
—
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,890Highest
about the VT average
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±25.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ludlow and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
Work from home
21.3%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
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 Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None 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.