Compare towns
Sandgate vs Lancaster vs Jay vs Arlington
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 affordable homes ($194k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Lancaster | Jay | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,216Highest |
471 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below 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% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Arlington 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% |
20.7%±3.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arlington and Lancaster 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington 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 42% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Jay 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%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% |
84% 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. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.