Compare towns
Jay vs Arlington vs Middlesex vs Richford
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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Jay | Arlington | Middlesex | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,598Highest |
1,943 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Jay and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Middlesex 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±$11k 26% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Richford 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.