Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Troy 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 65.3).
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 | Troy | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471 |
219Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
65.3±26.4Highest 52% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
51.1%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
9.3%Lowest 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% |
3.2%±6.3 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 |
$91,688±$8kHighest 13% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Troy 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$187,500±$46kLowest 41% below VT |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | — | $1,079±$54Lowest 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 | $3,167 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,480Lowest 51% below VT |
$4,015Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.7%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 | 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.