Compare towns
Sandgate vs Newfane vs Westminster vs Jay
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 affordable homes ($194k median).
Newfane has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Newfane | Westminster | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
| Sandgate and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Westminster 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 |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Newfane 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.