Compare towns
Townshend vs Jay vs Dover vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the highest household income ($79k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Townshend | Jay | Dover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
471Lowest |
1,466 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.