Compare towns
Jay vs Putney vs Windham vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,622 |
16,038Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39±3.6 about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,160±$66 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.