What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Jay has the most homeowners (97%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Bennington	Jay
People
Population	1,336Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT
	Jay and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Jay and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%	15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	45.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT	$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT
	Jay and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average	$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT
	North Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278 17% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Highest 11% above VT	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4%	40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	North Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	40 minHighest 69% above VT
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Jay and North Bennington 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.