Compare towns
South Hero vs Sandgate vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | South Hero | Sandgate | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Highest |
435Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| Sandgate and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | South Hero School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.