Compare towns
Grafton vs Sheldon vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Grafton | Sheldon | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,267Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,219±$19kHighest about the VT average |
| Jamaica and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT |
| Jamaica and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Grafton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
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.