Compare towns
Sandgate vs Calais vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Calais | Wheelock | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,713Highest |
717 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%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 |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below 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±$31k 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below 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 |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Lowest 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 | 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.