Compare towns
Jay vs Lowell vs Roxbury
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 affordable homes ($183k median).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,070Highest |
942 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
| Jay and Roxbury 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% |
30.6%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Roxbury 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
| Jay and Roxbury 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 |
$242,600±$55kHighest 23% below VT |
| Roxbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$950±$495Highest 23% below VT |
| Roxbury and Lowell 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 |
$4,284Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Lowell 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% |
27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
94%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lowell School District | — |
| 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.