Compare towns
Jay vs Bow vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Bow | Middlesex | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,943 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Middlesex 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Middlesex 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 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bow School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.