Compare towns
Wells River vs Jay vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Wells River | Jay | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 340Lowest |
471 |
532Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells River and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 43% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Whiting 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 |
| High school 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.