Compare towns
Jay vs Mount Holly 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%).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Mount Holly | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,415Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+12%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±8.2Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Mount Holly 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% |
21.2%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Mount Holly 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% |
28%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Mount Holly 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% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Jay 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 |
$78,015±$19kHighest 4% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Mount Holly 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 |
$296,900±$40kHighest 6% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Mount Holly and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,534±$1kHighest 24% above VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Mount Holly 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 |
$3,926 22% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.9%±65.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mount Holly 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% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.2%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mount Holly 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.