Compare towns
Jay vs Brighton vs Highgate vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Jay | Brighton | Highgate | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,167 |
3,528Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
— |
| Highgate and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Brighton School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.