Compare towns
Jamaica vs Waitsfield 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 most homeowners (96.9%).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
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 | Waitsfield | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Highest |
193Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19k about the VT average |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Stratton 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 | $4,773Highest 5% below VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.