Compare towns

Sandgate vs Mount Tabor vs Jay 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%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Jay has the most kids (14.2% under 18).
Ira has the most renters (9.3% rent).

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.

MeasureSandgateMount TaborJayIra
People
Population
435
304Lowest
471Highest
381
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
55.7±5.4
29% above VT
57.8±10.6Highest
34% above VT
52.1±10.5Lowest
21% above VT
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
Mount Tabor and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±7.5
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±6.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Jay and Sandgate 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%
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.6%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 7%
Ira 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
—
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
$71,827±$5k
12% below VT
Jay and Ira 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
$420,500±$76kHighest
33% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$272,900±$18k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
—
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$5,233Highest
4% above VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$4,146
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
Jay and Ira 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%
11%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.3%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
17 yrs older than VT
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
46 minHighest
94% above VT
40 min
69% above VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
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 Our Story 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.