Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wayne vs Sandgate vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Irasburg has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Sheldon | Wayne | Sandgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,033 |
435Lowest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Irasburg and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$230,800±$22k 31% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— | $1,063±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,966 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wayne and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.