Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Jay vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Canaan has the shortest commute (20 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 | Lunenburg | Jay | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
471Lowest |
810 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Lowest 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT |
| Canaan and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Canaan and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.5%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Canaan and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Canaan and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 35% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$55,606±$4k 32% below VT |
| Jay and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$201,900±$46k 36% below VT |
| Jay and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 17% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,389 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
17.2%±63.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lunenburg and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Canaan School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Canaan High School CTE Program |
| 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.