Compare towns
Richford vs Westminster vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richford has the youngest population (median age 39).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Richford | Westminster | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,467 |
2,999Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Westminster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Westminster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,063Highest 19% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.