Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Jay vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Monkton has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Castleton | Dummerston | Jay | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,090 |
471Lowest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
| Jay and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,301±$120 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,887Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Monkton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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 | 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.