Compare towns
Jay vs Newfane vs Rochester
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%).
Newfane has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Newfane | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,456Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Newfane 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Newfane and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Jay and Rochester 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 |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.