What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

Thetford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Thetford
People
Population	471Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT	43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average
	Jay and Thetford 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%	15.4%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Thetford 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%	20.8%±6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Thetford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	68%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7%
	Thetford 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	$88,045±$16kHighest 8% above VT
	Thetford 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	$329,500±$96kHighest 4% above VT
	Thetford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,141±$96 8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT	$6,948Highest 38% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Thetford 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%	8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 69% above VT	23 minLowest 4% below VT
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%	13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Jay and Thetford 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	—	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	Thetford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.