Compare towns
Sandgate vs Williston vs Middlesex vs Manchester
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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.