Compare towns

Jay vs Waterville vs Troy

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%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureJayWatervilleTroy
People
Population
471Lowest
680
1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
44.5±5.7Lowest
3% 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%
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
21.4%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Troy 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%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
17.7%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Troy 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%
32.1%
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
Waterville and Troy 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
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
Troy 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
$236,300±$15kHighest
25% below VT
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% 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 —
$1,110±$93Highest
10% below VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$3,957Highest
21% below VT
$3,644
28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
69% above VT
38 min
60% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Troy School District
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.