Compare towns
Jay vs Fairfax vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering JayRichford
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 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 | Fairfax | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Troy 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Troy 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Troy 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Troy 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Fairfax and Troy 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Fairfax School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.