Compare towns
Jay vs Wheelock vs Reading
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%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | Wheelock | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
717Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51±5.6Lowest 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.