Compare towns
Wilmington vs Jay vs Fairlee vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the most renters (26% rent).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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.
| Measure | Wilmington | Jay | Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,747Highest |
471Lowest |
1,066 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.6%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$95Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 5% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.