Compare towns
Sandgate vs Rochester vs West Haven
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%).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% 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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
1,389Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Sandgate and West Haven 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% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and West Haven 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sandgate and Rochester 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 |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rochester and West Haven 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.