Compare towns
Strafford vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Cornwall
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k 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 | Strafford | Sheldon | Jay | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.