Compare towns
Barnard vs Castleton vs Ira vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Barnard | Castleton | Ira | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Ira and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Ripton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.