Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Troy vs Wallingford
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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Troy | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,749 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Jay and Wallingford 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Troy and Wallingford 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 |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford 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 |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Wallingford 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 |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Jay 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.