What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sandgate	Jefferson
People
Population	435Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.7±5.4Lowest 43% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sandgate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sandgate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,167±$19kHighest 14% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Sandgate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandgate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.