Compare towns
Barton vs Jay vs Proctor vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Barton | Jay | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.