Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Unity vs Richford
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%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Richford has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Jefferson | Unity | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,013 |
1,375 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford and Jefferson 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 7% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Unity 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±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,160±$66 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Richford 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. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Richford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jefferson 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 | — | Unity School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.