Compare towns
Brandon 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
Brandon has the most people working from home (9.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Brandon | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% 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 | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.