Compare towns
Arlington vs Jay vs Sandgate vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Arlington | Jay | Sandgate | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
471 |
435Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
— | — | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.