Compare towns

Jay vs Strafford vs Stratton

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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).

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.

MeasureJayStraffordStratton
People
Population
471Lowest
1,372Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% 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%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Strafford and Jay 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%
33.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford 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±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$110,833±$19k
36% above VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
Stratton and Strafford 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
$400,000±$50k
26% above VT
Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
Stratton and Strafford 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
$4,750
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Jay 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%
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
73.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1988
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
69% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Strafford 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 —
High school 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.