Compare towns
Troy vs Fairfax vs Proctor vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Troy | Fairfax | Proctor | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
5,226Highest |
1,794 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— |
| Fairfax and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Fairfax School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.