Compare towns
Jay vs West Haven vs Castleton 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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($245k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% 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 | West Haven | Castleton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
234Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| West Haven and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and West Haven 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 |
$245,000±$34kHighest 23% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| West Haven and Jay 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 |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,644 28% 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% |
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% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and West Haven 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 Our Story | 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.