Compare towns
Coventry vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
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 | Coventry | Sheldon | Jay | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.2 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Jay and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Coventry and Ryegate 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Coventry and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% 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 | $197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% 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 | $755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $908±$236 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 1.5%±27.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Coventry 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 | 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.