Compare towns
Jay vs Leicester vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Leicester has the youngest population (median age 48.8).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Leicester | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,026Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.8±3.8Lowest 13% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Jay and Wardsboro 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% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester 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% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester 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% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jay and Leicester 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 8% below VT |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Jay and Leicester 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 |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Leicester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Leicester 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 |
$3,822 24% below VT |
$4,345Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Jay 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% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wardsboro 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.