Compare towns

Sandgate vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Jay

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 people working from home (34.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most expensive homes ($234k 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.

MeasureSandgateHamptonCastletonJay
People
Population
435Lowest
1,145
4,453Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
52.1±10.5
34% above 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%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Hampton 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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sandgate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$193,800±$31k
42% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$234,200±$45kHighest
30% below U.S.
Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
—
Hampton and Castleton 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.
$3,007
4% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay 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 — — #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town — — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.