Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Cornish vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Irasburg has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Cornish | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,816 |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,063±$86Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,966 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Cornish School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.