Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Webster vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most renters (8.1% rent).
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 | Webster | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
2,227Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and West Fairlee 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 7% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Webster and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.