Compare towns
Jay vs Strafford vs Sandgate 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Strafford | Sandgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
1,372Highest |
435Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford 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 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest 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 | Strafford 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 |
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.