Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ira vs Jay vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Cavendish | Ira | Jay | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
381Lowest |
471 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Cavendish and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.