Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Fairfax
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fairfax has the most kids (24% 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 | Ripton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
508 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Jay 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfax 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.