Compare towns
Jay vs Fairfield vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Fairfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,938 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Jay and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston 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 |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.