Compare towns
Worcester vs Jay vs Windham vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Jay | Windham | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
471Lowest |
594 |
964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Windham and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | — | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None 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.