Compare towns
Jay vs Hardwick vs Richford vs Troy
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%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Richford has the youngest population (median age 39).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hardwick | Richford | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,965Highest |
2,467 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Troy 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Richford 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% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Richford and Troy 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Hardwick and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Richford and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
9.1Highest |
— |
| 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.