Compare towns
Jay vs Westfield vs Sheldon
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%).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Westfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
536 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44±19.9 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Westfield 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% |
27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westfield and Sheldon 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% |
29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield 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% |
27.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Westfield 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 |
$72,500±$30kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% 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 |
$301,400±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Westfield 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 |
$4,388Highest 13% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westfield and Jay 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westfield 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.