Compare towns
Jay vs Worcester vs Chester
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%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Chester 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 | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Jay and Chester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Chester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Jay and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Worcester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.