Compare towns
Troy vs Waitsfield 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
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Troy | Waitsfield | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
1,918 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Troy 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Sheldon 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Troy 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Troy and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 | 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.