Compare towns
Jay vs Townshend vs Worcester
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%).
Townshend has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Townshend | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,538Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above 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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Worcester 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% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Worcester 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.