Compare towns
Jay vs West Fairlee vs Worcester vs Ira
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%).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | West Fairlee | Worcester | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
711 |
831Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Ira 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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±$35k 25% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Worcester 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.