Compare towns
Sandgate vs Aurelius vs Jay vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Aurelius has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Sandgate | Aurelius | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
2,593Highest |
471 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.1±4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Aurelius and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,079±$16kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Aurelius and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$167,000±$14kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $813±$200Lowest 42% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Ira and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Aurelius and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.