Compare towns
Ripton vs Dover vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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 | Ripton | Dover | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
1,466Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Ripton 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 | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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.