Compare towns
Sandgate vs Highgate vs Ira vs Westmore
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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Ira | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
3,528Highest |
381Lowest |
465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
51.5±11.5 19% 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,050±$820Highest 15% below VT |
| Westmore and Ira 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.