Compare towns
Peru 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
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Peru | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,267Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 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 | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Peru and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Peru and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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.