Compare towns

Jay vs Peru vs Windham 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 most homeowners (97%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureJayPeruWindhamSandgate
People
Population
471
434Lowest
594Highest
435
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
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
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%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5
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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
26%±11.3Highest
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%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Highest
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
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$69,167±$19kLowest
15% below 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$193,800±$31kLowest
39% below 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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
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%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
69% above VT
28 min
19% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
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 — — —
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.