Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Jay vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.

MeasureBellows FallsJayWindsor
People
Population
2,891Highest
471Lowest
2,060
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
44.6±12.3
3% above VT
Jay and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±8.8
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2k
31% below VT
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
Jay and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$234,200±$45kHighest
26% below VT
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
Jay and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Highest
16% below VT
—
$1,002±$107Lowest
19% below VT
Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
12% below VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Bellows Falls and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #61 of 70 in VT
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school 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.