Compare towns
Jay vs Williamstown vs Sheldon vs West Fairlee
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%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Williamstown | Sheldon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,267 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and West Fairlee 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and West Fairlee 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Williamstown 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and West Fairlee 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.