Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Windham vs Jay vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Windham | Jay | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
594 |
471Lowest |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Jay and Wardsboro 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wardsboro 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Jay 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Windham and Wardsboro 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 |
— | — | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.