Compare towns
Jay vs Middletown Springs vs Ira
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%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Middletown Springs | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
747Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Jay 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% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Middletown Springs 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% |
45.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Middletown Springs 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 |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middletown Springs and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middletown Springs and Ira 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 |
$4,595Highest 9% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Ira 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% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.