Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Windham vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% 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 | Windham | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
471Lowest |
1,432 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Highgate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Highgate 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. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Windham and Highgate 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. |
— | $850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.