What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Lowest 39% above U.S.
	Sandgate and Jefferson 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%	12.2%±3.4Lowest 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%	30.8%±6.2Highest 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%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest 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.	$67,083±$9kLowest 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±$31kHighest 42% below U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
	Sandgate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S.	$3,602Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Lowest 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.