Compare towns
Elmore vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the highest household income ($99k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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 | Elmore | Jay | Sheldon | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Worcester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Elmore and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263 about the VT average |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.