Compare towns
Jay vs Aurelius vs Sandgate vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Aurelius has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
West Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($237k median).
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 | Aurelius | Sandgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
2,593Highest |
435Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
49.1±4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Aurelius 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Aurelius 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$94,079±$16kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Aurelius 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±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$167,000±$14kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kHighest 29% 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 | — | $813±$200Lowest 42% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.