Compare towns
Jay vs Williston vs Durham vs Forestport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Forestport has the most kids (22.7% 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 | Jay | Williston | Durham | Forestport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,354 |
10,144Highest |
2,641 |
1,693Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.8±5.1 25% above U.S. |
49±10.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Forestport and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Forestport and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Forestport and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,471±$15k about the U.S. average |
$72,813±$17k 10% below U.S. |
| Williston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$245,300±$26k 26% below U.S. |
$218,700±$28k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366 10% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$994±$844 30% below U.S. |
$621±$85Lowest 56% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 20% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,728 20% above U.S. |
$2,435Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.2%±41.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Forestport 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #100 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



