Compare towns
Ira vs Sandgate vs Wallingford vs Jay
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%).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Wallingford | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
435 |
2,286Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Jay 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 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 |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Wallingford and Jay 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 |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Ira and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
— |
| Ira and Wallingford 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 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 | — | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school 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.