Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Ira vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
Castleton has the most renters (21% rent).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Arlington | Castleton | Ira | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Arlington and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.