Compare towns
Jamaica vs Jay vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the most expensive homes ($348k median).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Jamaica | Jay | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Highest |
471 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Jamaica and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464 29% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773Highest 5% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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 |
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.