Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Fairlee vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Fairlee | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
1,066Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.