The Town FilesJamaica, Vermont
Town in Windham County · population 1,005 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,800
- Household income
- $79,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 130 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 55.1
Jamaica is a town of 1,005 people in Windham County, Vermont. The median home is worth $347,800, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better transit than 87% of Vermont towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Vermont towns.
How Jamaica ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jamaica is worth $347,800, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $79,219, which is more affordable than 23% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $870 a month. 96.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamaica | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,800 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $870 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $79,219 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 96.9% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.8% | — |
Who lives in Jamaica
| People | Jamaica | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.1 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.7% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 89.3% |
Weather in Jamaica
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 130.2 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamaica since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 20, 1968 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 2017.
Severe weather in Windham County since 1996
Windham County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| September 29, 2021 | Flood | DR-4621: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Windham County
Windham County had 20,831 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,758 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Jamaica itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Jamaica
1 public school with 17 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Village School | PK-5 | 17 | 8.5 |
Towns near Jamaica
- Wardsboro, VT5.8 mi · 869 people · home $299,300
- Londonderry, VT6.9 mi · 1,919 people · home $346,300
- Townshend, VT7.4 mi · 1,291 people · home $287,200
- Winhall, VT8.9 mi · 1,182 people · home $471,800
- Dover, VT9.6 mi · 1,798 people · home $332,900
- Newfane, VT10.7 mi · 1,645 people · home $284,200
- Grafton, VT11.6 mi · 645 people · home $343,200
- Brookline, VT11.8 mi · 540 people · home $290,700
Jamaica questions
Is Jamaica, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamaica scores better for retirees than 15% of Vermont towns and quieter than 44%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.1).
How much does a house cost in Jamaica?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamaica is valued at $347,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,219, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $870 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamaica?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 130.2 inches of snow.
Does Jamaica get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamaica since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 20, 1968. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)