Compare towns
Jay vs Dracut vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering JayTroy
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k 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 | Dracut | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
32,574Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richford and Dracut 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford and Dracut 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 7% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,160±$66Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Dracut | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.