Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Townshend vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Townshend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,538 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windham 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% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.