Compare towns

Fairlee vs Jay vs Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).

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.

MeasureFairleeJayFairlee
People
Population
1,066Highest
471
54Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
56.2±8.7
30% above VT
52.1±10.5Lowest
21% above VT
63.5±7.6Highest
47% above VT
Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
0%±52.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Jay and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
37%±54.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
11.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
0%±26.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
$21,071±$13kLowest
74% 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
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$277,500±$28kHighest
12% below VT
Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Highest
12% below VT
—
$1,057±$620Lowest
14% below VT
Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$3,750
26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
100%±55.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
50%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1942Lowest
34 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
—
Work from home
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.5%±30.4
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.