Compare towns
Jay vs West Haven vs Northfield
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%).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | West Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
234Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| West Haven and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven and Northfield 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.