What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	West Fairlee
People
Population	471Lowest	711Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT	50.3±7.6Lowest 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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±5.1Lowest 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%	29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Jay 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	$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT
	West Fairlee and Jay 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	$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	—	$1,113±$171 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT	$5,210Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest 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%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest VT: 73.2%	91.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 69% above VT	28 minLowest 20% above VT
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
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

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.