Compare towns
Jay vs Middlesex vs Ira 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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Ira | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,943Highest |
381Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Ira 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Ira 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.