Compare towns

Castleton vs Jay vs Burke

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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).

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.

MeasureCastletonJayBurke
People
Population
4,453Highest
471Lowest
1,317
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
41.1±4.8
5% below VT
Jay and Burke 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Burke 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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Burke 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%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
Burke and Jay 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
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
—
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
Castleton and Burke 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
$3,588
29% below VT
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Castleton 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%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Burke 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 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.