Compare towns

Jay vs Mount Tabor vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureJayMount TaborCastleton
People
Population
471
304Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
57.8±10.6Highest
34% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
Mount Tabor and Jay 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%
10.2%±6.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Jay 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%
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor 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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.6%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,792±$25kHighest
8% below VT
—
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
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±$45k
26% below VT
$420,500±$76kHighest
33% above VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588
29% below VT
$5,233Highest
4% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.3%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 min
69% above VT
46 minHighest
94% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Mount Tabor 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
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.