Compare towns
Dorset vs Jay vs Middlesex vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Middlesex has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Dorset | Jay | Middlesex | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
471 |
1,943 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% 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 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.