Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Jay vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Jay | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Jay and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18k 38% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— | $913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Poultney 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.