Compare towns
Jay vs Stowe vs Worcester
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
5,285Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Jay and Worcester 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Worcester 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
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| 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.