Compare towns
Brookline vs Jay vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Brookline | Jay | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
471Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.