Compare towns
Jay vs Dummerston vs Ira vs Richford
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%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Dummerston | Ira | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
2,090 |
381Lowest |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 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.