Compare towns
Wolcott 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
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Wolcott | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wolcott 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 | 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.