Compare towns
Jay vs Mendon vs Waterville
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 people working from home (27.3%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Mendon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,113Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Jay 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Waterville 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.