Compare towns
Jay vs Ludlow vs Stratton vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Ludlow | Stratton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,990Highest |
532 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Ludlow and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Troy 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Troy 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 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Stratton and Troy 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 |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Stratton and Ludlow 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 |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Troy School District |
| 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 | 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.