Compare towns
Whiting vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Athens has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Whiting | Jay | Sheldon | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
471 |
2,267Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Jay and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 | — |
| 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.