Compare towns
Jay vs Brookline vs Putney vs Troy
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%).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Brookline | Putney | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
531 |
2,622Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Brookline 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Putney 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Brookline 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$646±$323 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brookline 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.