Compare towns
Jay vs Proctor vs Franklin 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
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 | Franklin | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,794Highest |
1,590 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Franklin 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Franklin and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Franklin 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Franklin 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.