Compare towns
Jay vs Windham vs Highgate vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Windham | Highgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,432 |
3,528Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 7% below U.S. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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 30% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.