Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Castleton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Windham | Jay | Castleton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brookline 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 | — |
| 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.