Compare towns

Castleton vs Andover 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

Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (11.7%).
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.

MeasureCastletonAndoverIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,135
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46±11.6
18% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Ira and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.1%±7.7
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ira and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$88,514±$27kHighest
10% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$366,500±$44kHighest
10% above U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,211±$190Highest
14% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,962Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover 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 Andover School District —
High school in town None 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.