Compare towns
Ryegate vs Jay vs Wolcott vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
471Lowest |
1,507Highest |
786 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9 9% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Jay and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$70,259±$10k 13% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— | $1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472 11% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,930Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.