Compare towns
Jay vs Stratton vs Townshend vs Richford
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 homeowners (97%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Townshend has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Stratton | Townshend | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
532 |
1,538 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Townshend and Jay 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Richford 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Townshend 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Stratton and Townshend 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Stratton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Richford 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
9.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.