Compare towns
Jay vs Lowell vs Sandgate
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%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Lowell | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
118,368Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lowell 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 30% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lowell | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.