Compare towns
Ryegate vs Jay vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Brownington has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
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 | Ryegate | Jay | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
471Lowest |
1,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$75,556±$17kHighest 7% below VT |
| Brownington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Jay and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
— | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Ryegate and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,912Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle 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.