Compare towns
Jay vs West Haven 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 people working from home (27.3%).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | West Haven | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
234Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and West Haven 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Jay 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 |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,832±$130 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.