Compare towns
Jay vs Highgate vs Fair Haven
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%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Highgate | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fair Haven 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate 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 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Highgate 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 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Highgate and Fair Haven 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865Highest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Jay 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.