Compare towns
Jay 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 people working from home (27.3%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
594 |
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 |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±7.6 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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | 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.