Compare towns

Windham vs Sheldon vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureWindhamSheldonJay
People
Population
594
2,267Highest
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school 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.