Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% 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 | Sheldon | Jay | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest 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 | $78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% 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 | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% 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 | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| 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.