Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Northfield
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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Peru | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
434Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| 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 |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Peru and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| 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 |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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.