Compare towns
Jay vs Sheffield vs Highgate
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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k 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 | Sheffield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
573 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Sheffield 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% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Highgate 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheffield and Highgate 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.