Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Burke vs Shaftsbury
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).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Jay | Burke | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,317 |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% 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 |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Jay and Shaftsbury 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%±4 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Burke 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%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Burke 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% |
40.9% 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% |
2.1%±2.1 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 |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Burke and Shaftsbury 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 |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,079±$54 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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 |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| 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% |
52.7%±36 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.3% 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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 min 5% 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% |
7.2%±5.3 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 | — | — | #62 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 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.