Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Jay vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Jay | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
471Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.