Compare towns
Bradford 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
Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Bradford | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,827 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bradford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30k 18% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Bradford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bradford 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 | #45 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.