Compare towns
Jay vs Reading vs Mendon vs Troy
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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Reading | Mendon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
699 |
1,113 |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Mendon and Troy 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.