Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jay vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chester has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Jay | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
471Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% 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 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.