Compare towns

Sandgate vs Unity vs Jay vs Wheelock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% 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.

MeasureSandgateUnityJayWheelock
People
Population
435Lowest
1,375Highest
471
717
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
52.1±10.5
34% above U.S.
51±5.6Lowest
31% above U.S.
Unity and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±7.5
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wheelock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.4%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Unity and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wheelock 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±$19k
14% below U.S.
$87,500±$16kHighest
8% above U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below U.S.
Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$193,800±$31k
42% below U.S.
$276,100±$29kHighest
17% below U.S.
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$189,600±$37kLowest
43% below U.S.
Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$804
15% above U.S.
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$2,937
6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
35 min
32% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±16
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Unity School District 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

U.S. 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.