Compare towns
Jay vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Jay | Reading | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
699 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Reading 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.