Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% 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 |
51.4±4.7 19% 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 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 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+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above 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 | $237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789 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 | $5,210 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Strafford School District |
| 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.