What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Jay
People
Population	10,736Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT
	Jay and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest VT: 17.9%	14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%	15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT	$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT	$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118 about the VT average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 15% above VT	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4%	40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Hartford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	40 minHighest 69% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Jay and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Hartford School District	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.