Compare towns
Sandgate vs Ellsworth vs Jay vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Ellsworth | Jay | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
8,657Highest |
471 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Arlington 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 14% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.