Compare towns
Strafford vs Jay vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Strafford | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Strafford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.