Compare towns
Jay vs Vershire vs Waterville 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 highest household income ($75k).
Vershire has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Vershire | Waterville | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
842Highest |
680 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Vershire 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% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Vershire 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% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Jay and Vershire 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 |
$209,100±$55k 34% below VT |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Waterville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,117±$80Highest 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Vershire and Waterville 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 |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Waterville 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.