Compare towns
Jay vs Benson vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Jay | Benson | Sutton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
784 |
790Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Benson 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 VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson 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 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Benson 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 26% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Benson and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.