Compare towns
Andover vs Jay vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Andover | Jay | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
471Lowest |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Andover and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Andover and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.