Compare towns
Jay vs Strafford vs Stratton 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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Strafford | Stratton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,372Highest |
532 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Strafford 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 | Strafford 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 | 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.