Compare towns
Brookline vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Brookline | Jay | Sheldon | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.