Compare towns
Jay vs Whiting vs Mendon 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%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
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 | Whiting | Mendon | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
532 |
1,113Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Mendon 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%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Mendon 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Mendon 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$519Lowest about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | — |
| 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.