Compare towns
Sandgate vs Wells River 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%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Jay has the most expensive homes ($234k median).
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 | Wells River | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
340Lowest |
471Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Wells River and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Wells River 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 15% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$336 27% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells River and Jay 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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.