Compare towns

Stannard vs Strafford vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureStannardStraffordJay
People
Population
228Lowest
1,372Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.3±14.6Lowest
12% above VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.2%±9.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.9%±8.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Stannard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±6.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,979±$30kLowest
18% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$216,200±$44kLowest
32% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,183
17% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
8.6%±5.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.