Compare towns
Jay vs Montgomery 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 highest household income ($75k).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Sandgate has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Montgomery | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
1,047Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.5±11.3Lowest 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montgomery 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Jay and Sandgate 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 |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Montgomery and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $868±$209 30% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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 VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.