Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Sheldon vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Peru | Sheldon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
434Lowest |
2,267Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windham 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — |
| High school 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.