Compare towns
Roxbury vs Jay vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
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 | Roxbury | Jay | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 942 |
471Lowest |
1,070Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Jay and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Roxbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Jay and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55kHighest 23% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Roxbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495Highest 23% below VT |
— | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
| Roxbury and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284Highest 15% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lowell 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.