Compare towns

Troy vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureTroyPlainfieldSheldonJay
People
Population
1,749
1,314
2,267Highest
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Troy and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% below VT
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Plainfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
—
Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
28% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
7% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Troy School District — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
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 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.