Compare towns
Jay vs Calais vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering JayTroy
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Calais | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,713 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Richford 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
| Calais and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.