Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Shaftsbury
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%).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Sandgate | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Sandgate and Shaftsbury 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury 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 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,079±$54 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,015Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.