Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Middlebury vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267 |
9,175Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
39±3.6 10% 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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Middlebury 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middlebury 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.