Compare towns
Jay vs Windsor vs Windsor 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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Windsor | Windsor | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,554Highest |
2,060 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Windsor 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%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4 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±$25k 8% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% 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 | — | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Windsor 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windsor 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.