Compare towns
Sandgate vs Lowell vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% 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 | Lowell | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
1,070Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Lowell 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 15% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| 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±$31k 39% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Lowell and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$2,810 44% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.