Compare towns
Sandgate vs Calais vs Berlin vs Ira
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%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Calais | Berlin | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
1,713 |
2,880Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Berlin 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Berlin 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Berlin 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 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Calais and Berlin 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Calais and Berlin 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Berlin 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Calais 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.