Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Waterville
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Jay and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Jay and Waterville 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.