What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

Irasburg has the most kids (24.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Irasburg
People
Population	471Lowest	1,384Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT	40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT
	Jay and Irasburg 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%	24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Irasburg 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%	19.5%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Irasburg and Jay 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%	23.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	3%±2.5Highest VT: 7%
	Irasburg 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT	$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT
	Irasburg 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±$45kHighest 26% below VT	$230,800±$22kLowest 27% below VT
	Jay and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,063±$86 14% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT	$3,966Highest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	17%±28.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Jay and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT	1988Lowest 12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 69% above VT	24 minLowest 3% above VT
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.