Compare towns
Jay vs Middlesex vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 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 | Middlesex | Windham | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,943Highest |
594 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Troy 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%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Middlesex 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.