Compare towns
Williston vs Rupert vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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 | Williston | Rupert | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
676 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Williston and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 48% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 |
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.