Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheldon vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Northfield | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,267 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% 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 | $274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheldon 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.