Compare towns
Westmore vs Jay vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Charleston has the shortest commute (26 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 | Westmore | Jay | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
471 |
936Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Westmore and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Westmore and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Highest 15% below VT |
— | $979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Westmore and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Charleston 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 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.