Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Brighton vs West Fairlee
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% 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 | Sheldon | Brighton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,167 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brighton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Brighton 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| 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 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and West Fairlee 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Brighton School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.