Compare towns
Jay vs Proctor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Proctor | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,794Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Jay and Waterville 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Waterville 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
| Waterville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Proctor 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 |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Proctor 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.