Compare towns

Jay vs Troy 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%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($237k median).

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.

MeasureJayTroyWest Fairlee
People
Population
471Lowest
1,749Highest
711
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
44.5±5.7Lowest
3% above 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%
21.4%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Troy 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%
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
West Fairlee and Troy 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
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
$76,500±$16k
6% below VT
Troy and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% below VT
$237,200±$35kHighest
25% below VT
West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$1,113±$171Highest
10% below VT
West Fairlee and Troy 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
$3,644
28% below VT
$5,210Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
West Fairlee and Jay 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%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%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
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
69% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Troy School District 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

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.