Compare towns
Mount Tabor vs Jay vs Castleton vs Woodford
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 most expensive homes ($421k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Woodford has the oldest population (median age 61.8).
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 | Jay | Castleton | Woodford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 304 |
471 |
4,453Highest |
282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±10.6 34% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
61.8±4.9Highest 43% above VT |
| Woodford and Mount Tabor 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±11.2Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
35.1%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Woodford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±5.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,250±$20kHighest about the VT average |
| Woodford 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$275,000±$67k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,075Lowest 39% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 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 | 11% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 46 minHighest 94% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.6%±11.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Woodford 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 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.