Compare towns
Bernardston vs Castleton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Bernardston | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston 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 | Pioneer Valley | 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 |
U.S. 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.