Compare towns
Cornwall vs Jay vs Middlebury vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Cornwall | Jay | Middlebury | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
471Lowest |
9,175Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Jay and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 33% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cornwall 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.