Compare towns
Fairlee vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Fairlee | Jay | Sheldon | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Orford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.