Compare towns
Sandgate vs Jay vs Dummerston vs Manchester
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%).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($455k 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 | Jay | Dummerston | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
2,090 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.