Compare towns
Brookfield vs Jay vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Jay | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
471Lowest |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Brookfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 55% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.