Compare towns
Sandgate vs Ripton vs Jay vs Manchester
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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Ripton | Jay | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
471 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
| Ripton and Manchester 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
| Manchester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $1,057±$76 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.