Compare towns
Barnard vs Dummerston vs Jay vs Westford
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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Dummerston | Jay | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,090 |
471Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Jay and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.