Compare towns
Jay vs Mendon vs Highgate 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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Mendon | Highgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,113 |
3,528Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Mendon and West Fairlee 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Mendon 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 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 | 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.