Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | West Fairlee | Sheldon | Jay | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.