Compare towns
Barton vs Castleton vs Ira vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Barton | Castleton | Ira | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Plainfield 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school 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.