Compare towns
Ryegate vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Barnet 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 | Ryegate | Jay | Sheldon | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Jay and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ryegate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% 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 | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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 | 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.