Compare towns
Jay vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,016 |
2,267Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and West Fairlee 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. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 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 | — | $750±$207Lowest 47% 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$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% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% 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% |
87.6%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. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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.