Compare towns
Addison vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Sheldon | Jay | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
2,267Highest |
471 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
— | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Addison and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Addison and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.