Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Reading 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Reading | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Highest |
699 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Jay 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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±$16k 6% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 |
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.