Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Salem
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Jay | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Jay and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem 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±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Salem 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. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Salem 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.