Compare towns
Sandgate vs Brandon vs Rupert
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%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Brandon | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,120Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Rupert 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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 |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Rupert 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% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 17 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Rupert 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.