Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Thurman vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Thurman has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Richford has the most renters (29.6% 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 | Thurman | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267 |
977 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Thurman and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman and Richford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,750±$14k 27% below U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43k 41% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,160±$66Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Thurman and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$3,300 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Thurman 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 | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.