Compare towns
Jay vs Washington vs Williamstown
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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Washington | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,056 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Williamstown 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% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT |
| Williamstown and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Washington 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.