Compare towns
Jay vs Strafford vs Northfield
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,372 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Northfield 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%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Strafford and Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Strafford 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Strafford School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.