Compare towns
Jay vs Brunswick vs Sandgate vs Ira
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 youngest population (median age 52.1).
Brunswick has the highest household income ($128k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Jay | Brunswick | Sandgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Highest |
109Lowest |
435 |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
57.5±13.8Highest 33% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Brunswick and Sandgate 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% |
23.9%±24.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brunswick and Jay 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% |
39.4%±25.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brunswick and Ira 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% |
35.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±11Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Brunswick and Ira 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 |
$128,125±$33kHighest 58% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Brunswick 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 |
$228,100±$52k 28% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $942±$52 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,472Lowest 51% below VT |
$2,778 45% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Brunswick 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
95.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
41 minHighest 76% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±15.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — | — |
| High school 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.