Compare towns
Jay vs Highgate 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 most homeowners (97%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Highgate | Sandgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
3,528Highest |
435 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% 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 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest 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+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%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% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school 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.