Compare towns
Sandgate vs Franklin vs Wheelock 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%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Franklin | Wheelock | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
1,590Highest |
717 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
51±5.6 18% 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Ira 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 |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Franklin and Ira 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
— | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Franklin 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 |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Ira 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school 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.