Compare towns
Jay vs Hampton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Hampton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,145 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Jay and Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Northfield 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Northfield 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Jay and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.