Compare towns

Newfane vs Jay vs Dummerston vs Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).

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.

MeasureNewfaneJayDummerstonFairlee
People
Population
1,456
471Lowest
2,090Highest
1,066
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
—
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,083±$242Lowest
12% below VT
Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,174
about the VT average
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
13% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town None 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.