Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Wilder
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 kids (14.2% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% 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%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Sandgate 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Wilder and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.