Compare towns
Ira vs Jay vs Whitingham vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Ira | Jay | Whitingham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
471 |
1,368Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Ira and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and West Haven 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.