Compare towns
Jay vs Arlington vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Jay | Arlington | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
2,598Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% 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 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Arlington and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Jay 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Arlington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.