Compare towns
Calais vs Jay vs Wheelock
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Calais | Jay | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
471Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51±5.6 18% 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 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Lowest 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.