Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Hancock vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Townshend has the shortest commute (25 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 | Windham | Jay | Hancock | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
471 |
435Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.