Compare towns
Cambridge 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
Cambridge has the most people working from home (9.9%).
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 | Cambridge | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cambridge 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.