Compare towns
Jay vs Poultney vs Ripton
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%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Poultney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,033Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton 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% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney 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% |
38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton 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 |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $868±$113 30% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.