Compare towns
Jamaica vs Jay vs Ripton vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Jamaica | Jay | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 882Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Jamaica and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
— | — | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773 5% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.