Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Northfield 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
508 |
5,920Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Northfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.