Compare towns
Jay vs Arlington 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
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Jay | Arlington | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,598Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below 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 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Arlington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Arlington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Arlington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Jay 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Arlington School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.