Compare towns
Busti vs Castleton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has the most people working from home (9.5%).
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 | Busti | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,452Highest |
4,453 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Busti and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876 24% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Busti 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.