Compare towns

Jackson vs Castleton vs Meredith

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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.

MeasureJacksonCastletonMeredith
People
Population
1,695
4,453Highest
1,467Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.9±3.6Highest
46% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.3±4.6
40% above U.S.
Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$8k
4% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$85,938±$16kHighest
6% above U.S.
Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,400±$40kHighest
29% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$230,600±$24k
31% below U.S.
Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,139±$43Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$794±$175Lowest
44% below U.S.
Jackson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,165Highest
34% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,630
16% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±53.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Jackson and Meredith 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 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.