Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sheldon vs Ira 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 people working from home (34.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Sheldon | Ira | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
2,267Highest |
381 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and West Haven 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school 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.