Compare towns
Jay vs Mendon vs West Fairlee vs Ira
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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | West Fairlee | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,113Highest |
711 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Mendon 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.