Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Middlebury vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
471Lowest |
7,220Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Jay and Fairfield 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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
19.8%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlebury 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% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middlebury 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.