Compare towns
Belvidere vs Guildhall vs Jay vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Belvidere | Guildhall | Jay | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422 |
371Lowest |
471 |
1,047Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Jay and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $868±$209 30% below VT |
| Belvidere and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.