Compare towns
Jay vs Waltham 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%).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k 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 | Waltham | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
452Lowest |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Waltham 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Waltham 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.