Compare towns
Jay vs Northfield vs Plainfield
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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Northfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Jay and Northfield 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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.