Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Ryegate
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 most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Jay and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ryegate 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±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% 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 |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| 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.