Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jay vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainfield | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
471 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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 | 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.