Compare towns
Jay vs Richmond vs Wilder 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%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Richmond | Wilder | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
4,159Highest |
3,087 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Wilder 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.