Compare towns
Hancock vs Jay vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k 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 | Hancock | Jay | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester 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.