Compare towns
Wolcott vs Jay vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Wolcott | Jay | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507Highest |
471Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wolcott School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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.