Compare towns
Andover vs Barre vs Jay vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Andover | Barre | Jay | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
8,412Highest |
471Lowest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Jay and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.