Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Bridgewater vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | West Fairlee | Bridgewater | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
980Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater 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+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 | $76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% 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 | $237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% 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 | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
— |
| West Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.