Compare towns
Sandgate vs Stowe vs Middlesex vs Ira
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).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Stowe | Middlesex | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
5,285Highest |
1,943 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Ira 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Stowe 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.