Compare towns
Jay vs Lancaster vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering JayTroy
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Lancaster | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richford and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Richford and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | White Mountains Regional 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 | None yet | 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.