Compare towns
Sandgate vs Orange vs Jay 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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Orange | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
7,573Highest |
471 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Jay 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| 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 42% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Ira and Orange 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. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Jay 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.