Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Jay | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,528 |
471Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Troy 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Castleton and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,644Highest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 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 | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.