Compare towns
Jay vs Johnson 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%).
Johnson has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Johnson | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,450Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below 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% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Jay 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| 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 26% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% 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 | — | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Johnson 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 |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and West Fairlee 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% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.