Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Highgate | Jay | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Highgate and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Highgate and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.