Compare towns
Jay vs Rupert vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
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%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Rupert | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
676 |
532 |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Rupert and Jay 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Stratton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Jay 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Rupert 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.