Compare towns
Sheffield vs Jay vs Ryegate vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
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 | Sheffield | Jay | Ryegate | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 573 |
471 |
1,059Highest |
190Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
| Jay and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$65,795±$12k 19% below VT |
| Jay and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50k 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
| Jay and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
| Sheffield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123 58% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.