Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Castleton vs Ira vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Brattleboro | Castleton | Ira | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,657 |
4,453 |
381Lowest |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Ira and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% 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 | $234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest 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 |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Barre 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.