Compare towns
Jay vs Reading vs Westminster vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Westminster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
699Highest |
497 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school 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.