Compare towns

Sandgate vs Walden vs Burke vs Jay

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%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).

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.

MeasureSandgateWaldenBurkeJay
People
Population
435Lowest
1,037
1,317Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
Sandgate and Jay 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%
14.3%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
26%±11.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Sandgate and Burke 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%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Walden and Burke 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
$88,000±$15kHighest
8% above VT
$87,143±$17k
7% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Walden and Burke 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
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
$938±$191Highest
24% below VT
—
Burke and Walden 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
$3,944
22% below VT
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Walden 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%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
VT: 73.2%
93.8%
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
26 min
10% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town — None 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.