Compare towns
Barnard vs Jay vs St. George vs Calais
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 renters (14.6% rent).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Jay | St. George | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
471Lowest |
812 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and St. George 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and St. George 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,464±$34kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| St. George and Calais 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais 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 |
— | $1,394±$132 13% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and St. George 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Calais 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.