Compare towns
Sandgate vs Waltham 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%).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Jay has the most kids (14.2% 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.
| Measure | Sandgate | Waltham | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
452 |
471Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
| Waltham 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Sandgate 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Waltham 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±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Waltham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Waltham 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.