Compare towns
Underhill vs Jay vs Calais vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Underhill | Jay | Calais | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141Highest |
471Lowest |
1,713 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Jay and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Underhill and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Calais and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Jay 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.