Compare towns
Ryegate vs Sheldon vs Sandgate vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Brownington has the most kids (26.1% 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 | Ryegate | Sheldon | Sandgate | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
2,267Highest |
435Lowest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472 31% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,912Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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.