Compare towns
Wheelock vs Jay vs Middlesex vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Jay | Middlesex | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
471Lowest |
1,943Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.