Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Nanticoke vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Nanticoke has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Nanticoke | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
471Lowest |
1,683 |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Jay and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$90,060±$19kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| St. Albans 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 32% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— | $941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,460±$152Highest 3% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$4,689Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and St. Albans 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 | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.