Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Mendon vs Poultney
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Mendon | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,113 |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.