Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Jay | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
10,144Highest |
471Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs 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 |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.