Compare towns
Jay vs Stannard vs Walden
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%).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Stannard | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
228Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.3±14.6Lowest 12% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay and Walden 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% |
13.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Walden 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% |
25.9%±8.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stannard and Walden 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% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
| Walden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,183Highest 17% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.