Compare towns
Jay vs Windham vs Halifax
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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
594 |
847Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Windham 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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Halifax 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Jay and Halifax 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $875±$154 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | Halifax School District |
| 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.