Compare towns
Fairfax vs Jay vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Fletcher has the oldest housing (typical home built 1987).
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 | Fairfax | Jay | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
471Lowest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Jay and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1987Lowest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.