Compare towns
Ira vs Sandgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Ira | Sandgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
435 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sandgate 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.