Compare towns
Fayston vs Jay vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the highest household income ($110k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Fayston | Jay | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342 |
471Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28kHighest 36% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689Highest 33% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.