Compare towns
West Fairlee 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
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | West Fairlee | Dover | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
1,466Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% 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 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.