Compare towns
Wheelock vs Jay vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Wheelock | Jay | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717 |
471Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Wheelock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wheelock 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 | — |
| High school 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.