Compare towns
Jay vs Castleton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Jay | Castleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.