Compare towns
Westmore vs Castleton vs Jay vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Westmore | Castleton | Jay | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
4,453Highest |
471 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Jay and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Benson 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 | 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 | 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.