Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Middlebury vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
9,175Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% 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 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Middlebury and West Fairlee 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
— |
| Middlebury and West Fairlee 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%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 |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.