Compare towns
Hampton vs Jay vs West Fairlee vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Jay | West Fairlee | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
471Lowest |
711 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hampton 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.