Compare towns
Reading vs Ira vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Reading | Ira | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Highest |
381Lowest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None 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.