Compare towns
Jay vs Reading vs Ripton 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
699 |
508 |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.