Compare towns
Jay vs Williston vs Dorset
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Williston | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Jay and Dorset 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.