Compare towns
Sandgate vs Shelburne vs Jay vs Rupert
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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Shelburne | Jay | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
7,969Highest |
471 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
50.9±3.2Lowest 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Sandgate 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Shelburne and Rupert 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.