Compare towns
Jay vs Plainfield vs Vernon
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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,314 |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Vernon School District |
| High school 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.