Compare towns
Sandgate vs Jay vs Castleton vs Arlington
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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Castleton has the most renters (21% rent).
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Jay | Castleton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
4,453Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.