Compare towns
Winhall vs Jay vs Stratton vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 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 | Winhall | Jay | Stratton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 752 |
471Lowest |
532 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
| Stratton and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
| Winhall and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$732 11% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,567Highest 30% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Manchester 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 | — | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.