Compare towns
Ryegate vs Jay vs Wolcott
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 youngest population (median age 41.2).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
471Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 |
$3,930Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott 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.