Compare towns
Jay vs Proctor vs Sheldon vs Vernon
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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Vernon has the most renters (23.8% rent).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267 |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Vernon 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Vernon 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.