Compare towns
Ira vs Hampton vs Jay vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ira | Hampton | Jay | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,145 |
471 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195 20% 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 | $4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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 | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hampton 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.