Compare towns
Barnard vs Bolton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Barnard | Bolton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
1,163 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
— |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.