Compare towns
Jay vs Ludlow 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 highest household income ($75k).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k 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 | Ludlow | Sandgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,990Highest |
435 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Ira 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| 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 26% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Ludlow and Ira 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 |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Jay 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 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 | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.