Compare towns
Jay vs Castleton vs Tunbridge vs West Fairlee
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Tunbridge has the most expensive homes ($315k 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 | Tunbridge | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,253 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Tunbridge and West Fairlee 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 |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.