Compare towns
Sheldon vs Orwell vs Jay vs Highgate
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Orwell | Jay | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,294 |
471Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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 VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Orwell 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 3% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT 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 14% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.