Compare towns
Jay vs Putney vs Calais 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Putney | Calais | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,713 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Calais 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Calais and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.