Compare towns
Newark vs Jay vs Groton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Groton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Newark | Jay | Groton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
471Lowest |
967Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Groton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
| Halifax and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 44% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 minLowest 29% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Halifax 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.