Compare towns
Sandgate vs Fairfax 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 affordable homes ($194k median).
Fairfax has the most kids (24% under 18).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Fairfax | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
5,226Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Fairfax and Rupert 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Rupert 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.