Compare towns
Sandgate vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Ira has the highest household income ($72k).
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 | Westminster | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
2,999Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±3.7Lowest 24% 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Westminster 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Ira 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.