Compare towns
Ira vs Middlesex vs Westminster vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Ira | Middlesex | Westminster | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,943 |
2,999Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.