Compare towns
Jay vs Northfield vs Peru
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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Northfield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
5,920Highest |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Jay and Peru 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% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peru and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Peru and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
| Peru and Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Peru 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.