Compare towns
Jay vs Hardwick vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 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 | Hardwick | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,965Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Hardwick 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Hardwick and West 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.