Compare towns
Manchester vs Sandgate vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Manchester | Sandgate | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.