Compare towns
Troy vs Windham vs Highgate vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Troy | Windham | Highgate | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
594 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Windham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
— | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
— |
| Highgate and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Troy School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.