Compare towns
Halifax vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Halifax | Jay | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy School District |
| 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.