Compare towns
Elmore vs Jay vs Sandgate vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Elmore | Jay | Sandgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
471 |
435Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Elmore and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Elmore and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest 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 | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Wolcott 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 | 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.