Compare towns
Sandgate vs Jay vs West Haven vs Ira
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 youngest population (median age 52.1).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | West Haven | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
471Highest |
234Lowest |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Ira 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $942±$52 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Ira 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.