Compare towns
Charlotte vs Jay vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
South Hero has the most renters (14.9% rent).
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 | Charlotte | Jay | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916Highest |
471Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.5±4.8Lowest 19% above VT |
| Charlotte and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
| South Hero and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$127,434±$15k 57% above VT |
| Charlotte and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$558,300±$46k 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
— | $1,439±$221Lowest 17% above VT |
| Charlotte and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,858 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.