Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Topsham
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 expensive homes ($234k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% 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% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Topsham 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Jay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Jay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $908±$398 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.