Compare towns
Jay vs Putney vs Cavendish vs Richford
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%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Putney | Cavendish | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,242 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Jay and Cavendish 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Cavendish 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Richford 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Cavendish and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Putney and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cavendish 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 18 photos → | 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.