Compare towns
Ryegate vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Proctor
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 renters (15.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Ryegate | Sheldon | Jay | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Ryegate 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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±$32k 31% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay 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 |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheldon 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.