Compare towns
Shoreham vs Jay vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Shoreham | Jay | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269 |
471Lowest |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.7±3.7Lowest 18% above VT |
| Jay and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jay and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335Lowest 6% above VT |
— | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,713 6% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None 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.