Compare towns

Sandgate vs Lancaster vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Jay has the most expensive homes ($234k 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.

MeasureSandgateLancasterJay
People
Population
435Lowest
3,216Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Lowest
17% above U.S.
52.1±10.5
34% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lancaster 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±$19k
14% below U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
Jay and Sandgate 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.
$215,700±$24k
35% below U.S.
$234,200±$45kHighest
30% below U.S.
Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$4,226Highest
35% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #107 of 120 in NH —
School district — White Mountains Regional School District Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.