Compare towns
Jay vs Fairlee vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering JayTroy
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Richford has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,066 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Fairlee and Jay 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Jay 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and 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±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Jay and 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.