Compare towns
Jay vs Lowell vs Montgomery
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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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 | Lowell | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,070Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Jay and Montgomery 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Jay and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Lowell and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
37 minLowest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Montgomery 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 | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.