Compare towns
Jay vs Cornwall vs Fairfield
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Cornwall | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,208 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Jay 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Fairfield 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Cornwall and Fairfield 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Cornwall and Fairfield 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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 VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.