Compare towns
Vershire vs Jay vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Vershire | Jay | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842 |
471Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Jay and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Chelsea 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.