Compare towns
Jay vs Castleton vs Whitehall vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Whitehall has the most affordable homes ($102k 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 | Whitehall | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,690 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.8±4.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±3.6 about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitehall and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$47,683±$8kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$56,853±$13k 30% 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 | $234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$102,000±$9kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16k 47% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$96Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Richford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,178 about the U.S. average |
$3,300 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
29.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Richford 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 | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.