Compare towns
Sandgate vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Jay has the most kids (14.2% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
| Sandgate and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Sandgate 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rochester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $929±$158 25% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.