Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Mendon vs Jay vs Strafford
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Jay | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
1,113 |
471Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.