Compare towns
Andover vs Jay vs Sandgate vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Andover | Jay | Sandgate | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
471 |
435Lowest |
699Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Andover 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.