Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Athens vs Sandgate
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Athens | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
2,267Highest |
431Lowest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Athens 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Athens 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Sheldon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Athens 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Athens 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.