Compare towns
Jay vs Rye vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Rye | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
5,611Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rye and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Jay 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rye School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.