Compare towns
Jay vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
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 | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,314 |
2,267Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middletown Springs and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Middletown Springs and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Middletown Springs 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.