Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Leicester
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).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Sheldon | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Jay and Leicester 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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 |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Sheldon 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 |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Leicester 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,822Highest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Leicester 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% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.