Compare towns
Williston 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Williston | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.