Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Wallingford vs West Fairlee
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%).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Wallingford | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
2,286Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% 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% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford 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%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Wallingford and West Fairlee 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 |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Wallingford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Wallingford 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Rivendell Interstate 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.