Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Sheldon vs Strafford
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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Sheldon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Strafford 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Sandgate 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None 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.