Compare towns
Jay vs Springfield vs Swanton
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Swanton has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
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 | Springfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
9,084Highest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Jay and Swanton 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.