Compare towns
Jay vs Richford vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering JayTroy
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Richford | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,467Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Jay and Sheldon 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Richford 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% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford 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% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Richford and Sheldon 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 |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% 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 |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% 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 | — | $1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.