Compare towns
Jay vs Barnet vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Middletown Springs has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Barnet | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
61Lowest |
747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
62.2±45.8Highest 44% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Barnet and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31.1%±29.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Middletown Springs 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% |
36.1%±44.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0%±23.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Middletown Springs and Jay 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 |
$57,917±$16kLowest 29% below VT |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$204,200±$38kLowest 36% below VT |
$262,200±$24kHighest 17% below VT |
| Middletown Springs and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,950Lowest 41% below VT |
$4,595Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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% |
47.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
— | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
55%±29Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Jay 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.