Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Chester | Jay | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
471Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.