Compare towns
Sandgate vs Brighton vs Jay 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%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Brighton | Jay | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,167Highest |
471 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert 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 39% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$33 37% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.