Compare towns
Jay vs Worcester vs Windham vs Troy
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%).
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Worcester | Windham | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
831 |
594 |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Troy 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Windham and Troy 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Worcester and Troy 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.