Compare towns
Sandgate vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Jay has the most expensive homes ($234k 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 | Braintree | Castleton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Braintree and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Braintree 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±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.