Compare towns
Jay vs Strafford vs Lincoln
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Strafford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,372 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Lincoln 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Lincoln and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Lincoln 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Lincoln 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Strafford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Strafford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Lincoln 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 | Strafford School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None 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.