Compare towns
Sandgate vs Mendon vs Jay vs Rupert
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%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mendon | Jay | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,113Highest |
471 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Mendon and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.