Compare towns
Ira vs Jay vs Windham vs Worcester
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Ira | Jay | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
471 |
594 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ira and Jay 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Windham 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±$18k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | — | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | 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.