Compare towns
Jay vs Castleton vs Wheelock vs Troy
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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Wheelock | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
717 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Castleton and Troy 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 |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,644Highest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Jay 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wheelock 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 | — | Troy School District |
| 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 | 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.