Compare towns
Barton 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
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Jay | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Highest |
471Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below 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 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Barton 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and West Fairlee 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | 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 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.