Compare towns
Wheelock vs Jay vs Castleton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
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 | Wheelock | Jay | Castleton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,308 34% 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% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wheelock 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.