Compare towns
Jay vs Proctor vs Fairfield
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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Proctor | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,586 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Jay 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% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Proctor 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 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school 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.