Compare towns

Calais vs Jay vs Stannard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Stannard has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureCalaisJayStannard
People
Population
1,713Highest
471
228Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
48.3±14.6
12% above VT
Jay and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±9.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.9%±8.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Stannard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
44.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
0%±6.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$66,979±$30kLowest
18% below VT
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$216,200±$44kLowest
32% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,183
17% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%
VT: 73.2%
98.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±5.5Lowest
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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.