Compare towns
Jay vs Ira vs West Haven
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 most expensive homes ($273k median).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Highest |
381 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven and Jay 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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 |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $942±$52 24% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and West Haven 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.