Compare towns
Jay vs Exeter vs Troy 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 people working from home (27.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Troy | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,749 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Troy 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Troy School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.