Compare towns
Jay vs Ossipee vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Ossipee | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,521Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Ossipee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ossipee 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 7% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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 30% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.