Compare towns
Jay vs Gorham vs West Fairlee vs Ira
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%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Gorham | West Fairlee | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
18,300Highest |
711 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Gorham Public Schools | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.