Compare towns
Jay vs Cavendish 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 people working from home (27.3%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Cavendish | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
1,242Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Cavendish 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Ira 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Cavendish and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 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.