Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Jay vs Northfield
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Mendon | Jay | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,113 |
471Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.