Compare towns
Sandgate vs Pawlet vs Arlington 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).
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Pawlet | Arlington | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,480 |
2,598Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jay 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Arlington 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Arlington and Jay 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 |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
— |
| Arlington and Pawlet 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 |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mettawee School District #84 | Arlington School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Arlington Memorial | 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.