Compare towns
Shelburne vs Jay vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Shelburne | Jay | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969 |
471Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
| Shelburne and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
— | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
| Essex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Jay 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | — | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 |
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.