Compare towns
Windham vs Sandgate vs Jay vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Windham | Sandgate | Jay | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
435Lowest |
471 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% 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 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.