Compare towns
Barnard vs Castleton vs Jay vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Barnard | Castleton | Jay | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Jay and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barnard 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.