Compare towns
Jay vs Hooksett vs Sandgate vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k 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 | Hooksett | Sandgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
15,057Highest |
435Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Hooksett School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.