Compare towns
Castleton vs Strafford vs Jay vs Hubbardton
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hubbardton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Strafford | Jay | Hubbardton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,372 |
471Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48±13.6 11% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Hubbardton 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.1%±10.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hubbardton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
43.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$102,321±$18k 26% above VT |
| Strafford and Hubbardton 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$293,800±$42k 7% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,708±$259Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,284 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hubbardton 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24%±17.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Hubbardton 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 | Strafford School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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.