Compare towns
Castleton vs Barton vs Plainfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Castleton | Barton | Plainfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
730 |
1,314 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% 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 | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Plainfield 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 | #38 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 | 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.