Compare towns
Jay vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
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 | Whitingham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,368Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Jay and Waterville 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Waterville 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
38 minLowest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.