Compare towns
Sandgate vs Pawlet vs Jay vs Wheelock
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%).
Pawlet has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Pawlet | Jay | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,480Highest |
471 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51±5.6 18% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wheelock 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%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Pawlet 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Wheelock 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Pawlet and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,924Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet and Jay 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 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 | — | Mettawee School District #84 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.