Compare towns
Waterville vs Jay vs Belvidere vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Vershire has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Waterville | Jay | Belvidere | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
471 |
422Lowest |
842Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
45.7±9.3 6% 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 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| Belvidere and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Belvidere and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
32 minLowest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school 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.