Compare towns
Braintree vs Jay vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Jay | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
471Lowest |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Braintree and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cabot and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Braintree and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$268,500±$77kHighest 15% below VT |
| Cabot and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Braintree 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cabot and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.