Compare towns
Jay vs Lancaster vs Sandgate vs Ira
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 highest household income ($75k).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Sandgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
2,230Highest |
435 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,036±$221Highest 27% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| 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 |
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.