Compare towns
Jay vs Peterborough 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%).
Peterborough has the most expensive homes ($405k 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 | Peterborough | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
6,408Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Lowest 34% above 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% |
16.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peterborough 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sandgate and Peterborough 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 7% below U.S. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Peterborough 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. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.