Compare towns
Jay vs Barton vs Highgate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Richford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Barton | Highgate | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
730 |
3,528Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Richford 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% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Highgate 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$56,853±$13k 30% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$176,600±$16k 44% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,300 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
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.