Compare towns
Jay vs Nanticoke vs Sheldon vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Nanticoke has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Jay | Nanticoke | Sheldon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,683 |
2,267Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Fairlee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,171Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nanticoke and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate 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 |
U.S. 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.