Compare towns
Jay vs Ira vs Rupert 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 youngest population (median age 52.1).
Ira has the most renters (9.3% rent).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Ira | Rupert | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
381Lowest |
676Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Rupert 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Rupert 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $942±$52 24% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 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 | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.