Compare towns
Jay vs Weston vs Windham 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 homeowners (97%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Weston | Windham | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
685 |
594 |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Weston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Weston 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% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Weston and Windham 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 |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
— | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Weston and West Fairlee 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Windham 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston and Jay 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 History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.