Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Williston | Castleton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,453 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Williston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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 |
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.