Compare towns
Jay vs Newark vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Newark | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
727 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newark and Jay 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 VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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 8% below VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% 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 | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% 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 | — | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
| Newark and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,771Highest 25% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.