Compare towns
Jay vs Arlington vs Wheelock
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 highest household income ($102k).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,598Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock 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%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Arlington and Jay 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% 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% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Lowest 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 History | 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.