Compare towns
Sandgate vs Highgate vs Rupert vs Jay
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).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Rupert | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,528Highest |
676 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Jay 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rupert and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691 27% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| 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.