Compare towns
Jay vs Springwater vs Sandgate vs Richford
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 expensive homes ($234k median).
Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Richford has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Springwater | Sandgate | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
2,503Highest |
435Lowest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
45.6±4.1 17% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
16.6%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richford and Springwater 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% |
17.2%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Richford 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% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford and Springwater 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. |
$84,670±$16kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Springwater 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±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$147,500±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16k 47% below U.S. |
| Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$438Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Richford and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,579 15% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,300 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.8%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springwater and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9 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 | — | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.