Compare towns
Jay vs Hampton vs Ira 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Hampton | Ira | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,145Highest |
381Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% 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% |
15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Jay 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Ira and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 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 6% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hampton 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.