Compare towns
Castleton vs Whitingham 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Whitingham | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,368 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Castleton 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.