Compare towns

Castleton vs Troy vs Jay

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).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 65.3).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureCastletonTroyJay
People
Population
4,453Highest
219Lowest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
65.3±26.4Highest
52% above VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
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%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.4%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Troy 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%
51.1%±17.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
9.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±6.3
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$91,688±$8kHighest
13% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Troy 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±$71k
29% below VT
$187,500±$46kLowest
41% below VT
$234,200±$45kHighest
26% below VT
Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
37% below VT
$2,480Lowest
51% below VT
$3,588Highest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
—
40%±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%
13.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
97%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
17% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
3.7%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
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
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.