Compare towns
Ira vs Whitingham vs Westmore vs Jay
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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.
| Measure | Ira | Whitingham | Westmore | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,368Highest |
465 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ira 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Westmore 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Westmore 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Westmore and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,050±$820Highest 15% below VT |
— |
| Westmore 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | — | None in town |
| 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.