Compare towns
Jay vs Ira vs Peru
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%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ira | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Highest |
381Lowest |
434 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% 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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ira 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Peru 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Jay 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
| Peru 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Peru 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.