Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs West Fairlee vs Ira
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 the highest household income ($113k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | West Fairlee | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
508 |
711Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee 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% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Ira 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.