Compare towns
Barton vs Fairfield vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Barton | Fairfield | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
1,938Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Fairfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— |
| Fairfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.