Compare towns
Jay vs Highgate vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Highgate | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Jay 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.