Compare towns
Hebron vs Jay vs Castleton vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Hebron | Jay | Castleton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,751 |
471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±6.8 12% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hebron and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,205±$4k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$65,163±$6kLowest 19% 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 | $206,800±$26k 38% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$189,500±$28kLowest 43% 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 | $1,055±$120Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,098±$102 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,736 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±45.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hartford 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | HARTFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | HARTFORD MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| 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.