Compare towns
Hebron vs Jay vs Castleton vs Rupert
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 most affordable homes ($207k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,751 |
471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
676 |
| 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% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2 34% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Hebron 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%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,205±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,800±$26kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Castleton and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Jay 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% |
6%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% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Rupert 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.