Compare towns
Jay vs Middlesex vs Montpelier
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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,943 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.