Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Jay vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Jay | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.