Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Sandgate vs Windham
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 most homeowners (97%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Peru | Sandgate | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
434Lowest |
435 |
594Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Windham 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Peru and Windham 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 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.



