Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Jay vs Ira
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).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Proctor | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,794 |
471 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Proctor 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.