Compare towns
Bernardston vs Castleton vs Ira vs Leyden
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest 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. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Ira and Leyden 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% |
13.8%±3.6 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% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 45% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% 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% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Leyden 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% 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% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Leyden 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 | 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.