Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Bristol | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% 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 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.