Compare towns
Stratton vs Jay vs Whiting vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Jamaica has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Stratton | Jay | Whiting | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
471Lowest |
532 |
882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Stratton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,773Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Jamaica 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 | 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.