Compare towns
Brandon vs Clarendon vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the youngest population (median age 50.1).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brandon | Clarendon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,460 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$305Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Mill River Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.