Compare towns
Jay vs Rupert vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
676 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Rupert and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Westminster 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rupert and Jay 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rupert and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 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 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.