Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Castleton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Bellows Falls | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% 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 | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Castleton 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.