Compare towns
Jay vs Shelburne 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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Shelburne | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Jay and Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Shelburne and Williston 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Shelburne 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Jay 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.