Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Castleton vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Peru | Castleton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
434Lowest |
4,453Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middletown Springs and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Peru and Middletown Springs 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Peru and Middletown Springs 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 |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.