Compare towns

Sandgate vs Calais 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%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).

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.

MeasureSandgateCalaisJay
People
Population
435Lowest
1,713Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
Sandgate and Jay 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%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±11.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Sandgate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais 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±$19kLowest
15% below VT
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Calais 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
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1Lowest
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
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.