Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Worcester vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Jamaica has the most expensive homes ($348k 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 | Wardsboro | Worcester | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
831 |
882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,219±$19kHighest about the VT average |
| Jamaica and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,773Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.