Compare towns

Brookfield vs Wheelock vs Jay

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).
Wheelock has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldWheelockJay
People
Population
1,486Highest
717
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
51±5.6
18% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Wheelock 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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Brookfield and Wheelock 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
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% 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
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
21% below VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Highest
10% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Jay and Brookfield 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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
97%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1989
13 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 min
55% above VT
28 minLowest
17% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
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.