Compare towns
Sandgate vs Lancaster vs Ira
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 (17.8% 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 | Lancaster | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
10,113Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Sandgate 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% |
21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Ira 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. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $969±$169Highest 31% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ira 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. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ira 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% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Lancaster 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 | 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.