Compare towns
Jay vs Rupert vs Wells
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 most expensive homes ($363k median).
Wells has the most kids (15.1% 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 | Rupert | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
676 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% 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% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Jay 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Rupert 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 |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Rupert and Wells 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±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Jay 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.