Compare towns
Jay vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ira 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 | Brookfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
1,486Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ira 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Brookfield 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Brookfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Ira 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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.