Compare towns
Mount Tabor vs Castleton vs Jay vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Mount Tabor | Castleton | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 304Lowest |
4,453Highest |
471 |
434 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above 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 | 10.2%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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+ | 42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 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 | 11% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 46 minHighest 94% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Peru 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.