Compare towns
Jay vs Wells vs Wheelock
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%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Wheelock has the shortest commute (28 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.
| Measure | Jay | Wells | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,148Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Wells and Wheelock 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 |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Wells 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wheelock 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.