Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Jay vs Stratton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Wardsboro | Jay | Stratton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
471Lowest |
532 |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
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 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest 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+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 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 | $62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Stratton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | 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.